[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
on the phone.
Danny, get your people out here now! he barked. The motherfucker s been in my goddamn
house!
He slammed the cell phone closed and looked around at Kelly, who was standing in the corner
next to the rail. The cops had come running up the driveway when they saw them come out of the
house. With guns pulled, the two men came up the steps.
Search the house thoroughly. I ll start downstairs, he ordered. Kelly, you stay out here until I
give you the okay.
She nodded stiffly, not moving from where she stood. Taggert looked at her for a moment and
then hurried inside. Moments later, he came out and found her still there in the corner by the rail.
Kelly felt so fragile she felt like she was trying to hide herself in a tiny space where the wall and the
rails met. She hadn t even noticed when he came back outside. When Taggert touched her shoulder,
she jumped like a cat when someone stepped on its tail.
The house is clear, you can come in now.
I d prefer to stay out here for now, she said softly
He tried his hardest to get her inside. The wind had picked up, coming off the lake, and the
night was cold, but Kelly barely felt it. She was numb from the inside out.
Kelly, it s cold out here, and I need you anyway. Tank s in the kitchen. He s been drugged. I
need you to sit with him until he wakes up.
How do you know he was drugged?
He s all groggy and bleary eyed. He threw up on the floor, some undigested meat and half of a
sleeping pill.
That s how he got it into Tank s system.
Poor Tank. Shouldn t he go to the vet?
He ll be fine. We ll watch him for a bit and see if he perks up. That s why I need you in there
with him.
Poor baby. Her concern for the dog she had first mirrored to Cujo was immediate. He was
loveable, and when she was cooking, she fed him bits and pieces so they had become fast friends.
Kelly hurried inside in front of Taggert, headed straight to the kitchen, and sat on the floor beside
the dog that had begun to whine in a pitiful way as he woke up. She knew what Taggart was trying
to do. Taking care of the dog would keep her mind on something else for a few minutes.
* * * *
T. J. watched her pet and croon to the dog, then left the room silently to continue to look
around and to wait for Danny to show up. He went to his office to see if anything had been moved
or taken. Surprisingly enough, his office was the exact way he had left it. This guy didn t even seem
to want to know if T. J. had found out who he was or what he knew. T. J. saw the flashing lights
from through the trees that lined the street before the turn to his driveway. He looked at his
watch half an hour had already passed since they came home. By the time he walked out the front
door, the tires of Danny car and two other police cars were screeching to a halt in his driveway.
We hauled ass up here, T-man. Danny said. What do we have?
What we have is the sick fucker broke into my house, drugged my dog, and cut up all of Kelly s
clothes.
Danny turned and started to bark orders at the four officers in uniform that came with him.
You two start processing from where he entered, and you two check the back and the woods
surrounding it, see if you get anything.
Danny turned to T. J. Where s Kelly?
She s inside sitting with the dog. Danny, we have to figure out a way to keep her safe because
this guy is getting his info somewhere and even if we move her again, he s going to find her.
I know but I m out of options except putting her in a safe house.
I might have an idea but it would mean us working under the radar. T. J. s mind was working
on an idea just as a plan B. It seemed he would need it sooner rather than later.
Okay, tell me what you got.
Not now, let s get this done and these guys out of here.
I can tell you something, Danny, the man is one cocky son of a bitch, and he isn t going to stop
until we stop him.
And we will, Danny replied.
In the kitchen, Kelly was nowhere to be found. Danny and T. J. went up the stairs together and
found her in the room that she slept in sitting on the floor in the midst of all her shredded and
ripped clothing. She looked up as they walked in with tears streaming down her face.
Why . . . why would he do this? she asked, gesturing around to the bits of fabric across the
floor.
Danny crouched down to the floor and held her hand. I don t know, but clothes are nothing. I
promise he won t get you.
I can t do this anymore. I can t feel like this anymore! I m scared all the time, and I m not safe
anywhere! she cried.
You re safe with us, Kelly, T. J. said. I have a plan, but I don t want to talk about it here.
Get together whatever s left of your things. We re going to be staying at a hotel for a few
nights.
Danny, finish up here then meet us at this address. He scribbled on a piece of note paper and
handed it to the detective. The three of us are going to sit, and I ll tell you my plan.
While Kelly piled her toiletries and some of her clothes that weren t destroyed into a bag, Danny
read something else that T. J. had written on the paper and then gave him a questioning look.
What s you re plan, T-man? Danny asked curiously.
Just do that and get back to the address right after. I ve got to talk to my superior for approval,
but this way, we can be sure if he comes looking we ll know exactly who he is. T. J. s tone was
grim. Anger for what this bastard was doing to Kelly made him want to hit something.
Okay, I ll see you there, Danny said and as he walked out of the room, he looked over at Kelly
and said to her Look at it this way, babe, you get to go on a wild shopping spree to replace this
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]